Challenge within a Challenge

The biggest challenge within my challenge is the challenge itself!  HaHaHa!

The greatest reward of the challenge is seeing my daughters and my hair change.

I must admit I haven't followed my challenge through to perfection, but the changes I have made are visible.

I have begun to wash our hair more frequently and moisturize more consistently.  I'm still trying to find out what works best, and the challenge is helping me to do that with frequent washings and conditionings.  I did buy a couple things though.  I needed some leave-in and a deep conditioner so I decided to go back to one of my first leave ins......

And for a moisturizing deep conditioner I chose......

There was a buy one get one so I couldn't pass up a deal.

For the past few weeks or so I rocked mini twist. 

It was a gradual progression.

When I finished it was really awesome to not have to think too hard about doing my hair.  I wet them a few times and even did a co-wash.  Everyone thought I was dreading and that I should. 

 Naah!  Not for me!

So I took them down and rocked that look for a few days.  It was cute!

But I love big hair!

So I separated the strands and rocked out with this!

Week 2

So since it took me soooo long to get to the end result of my wash, I kept my hiar in twists all week and wore head wraps all week too.

I finally took my hair down Friday and wore a twist out.  It was well defined but I like to seperate and fluff.  By the end of the day someone said it looked like a wash-n-go.  LOL!  That was cool with me.

Weeks 1 and 2ish

I forgot to mention that I will do length check both of our hair every two months (especially short spots) and at the end of our challenge, ~September~ my daughter will get the reward of getting her hair straightened for her birthday in November.

Ok now that's said, here is how day one, week one/2 went.......Wanna hear it?  Hear it go!

Both 3/19/13:  Hotoil treatment using regular old olive oil all night and to work.  We were oily all day! Need to add this step to the challenge bi-monthly!

Mine 3/20/13:  Shampooed with Tresemme Color protection, and did a protein DC with Aphogee 2 minute Reconstructor, moisture DC with Organix hydrating macademia oil intensive moisture mask overnight and to work. (added honey and olive oil).

Hers 3/20/13:  Co-washed with Organic Awapuhi ginger condish, Garnier Fructise sleek and shine leave-in, glycerin spray to help detangle, coconut oil, finger combed, clipped ends, shea whip, braided in individual braids all over.

Mine 3/21/13:  Rinse moisturizing DC in shower and kind of finger detangled.  Nice!   I added more condish but it took the softness away and made it harder to detangle.  So I left it alone, rinsed, and proceeded with my leave-in, glycerin mix, coconut oil, finger detangled, whipped shea then detangled with denman, clipped ends and twist.  What could I have left out????!!!

The leave-in didn't do anything, the glycerin didn't help.  I think I had too much glycerin and not enough aloe vera juice (I had added more glycerin before I started).  But the shea.......the shea made all the difference!

I hate how the twists look on me when they dry, but part of this challenge is low manipulation by way of  .........#4.  I will try to wear protective styles throughout the week and wear my hair out on the weekends and special events.

Yes, it took me 3 days to finish my hair, but I didn't take it down until the next friday to keep it in protection all week......ie..............#4.  I will try to wear protective styles throughout the week and wear my hair out on the weekends and special events.

CHALLENGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6 Month Challenge!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since its Spring and more moisture in the air from the season change, I have decided to challenge myself........

The Challenge.........es:  

                         1. Create for myself a weekly routine and stick to it.........weekly!

              The Reason:  My hair has been colored and needs to be conditioned with a protein and moisturizing deep conditioner every week.
                        

                         2.  Use up the products I have before I buy any more

              The Reason:  I don't want to become a product junkie.  Plus if there is something I can use that I can make myself........Why not!
                      

              3.  Mainly finger comb my hair and only use tools after last moisturizing step.

               The Reason:  Less breakage..............simple.

    
Last but definitely not least...........

                        4.  I will try to wear protective styles throughout the week and wear my hair out on the weekends and special events.

                   The Reason:  I want to retain length, especially where there has been breakage.  Wearing my hair out will be a treat since I love to wear my hair out.  Plus I don't particularly like how it looks in twists with dark roots.

At the end of my 6 months I will color(my roots) and maybe cut (for a different shape I want the top longer or about the same length as the bottom). 

My Daughters Challenge:

Some of the same challenges will go for my daughter.  Except the challenge will be daily/nightly moisture with water or glycerin mix, and kept up protective styles for length retention.  I may take it down every two weeks and shampoo because she swims now, or co-wash.  I find that homemade conditioners like egg and mayo work well on her hair.  So I will do a homemade condish at least once a month.  Probably on both of our hair.

I will also dust my ends every 2 months as needed, and hers every 6 or once a year as needed.  For her hair I probably won't need to since the increase in moisture will do wonders.

I know

It sounds like a lot, but these are somethings I need to do to get my hair back to a healthier state.  Healthy hair is easier to deal with than unhealthy, dry, brittle and breaking hair.......I think I will tweet that. :-)

You can join me!  That will make it more fun!  You don't have to do all those things.  Just start with one. 

come on..............Challenge yourself!

Tried it......Either it worked or it didn't........The color edition.......shampoo

 Since my hair is colored I have taken more precaution in keeping it moisturized than before. Here are a few things I have done and continue to do ( I guess I do have a routine!):

1 .I used renpure organics shampoo to wash my hair.  As I was looking at the bottle I noticed it protected color as well as being free of parabens and such.  

2. Finger detangling hair under running water has been advice I have heard on many a blog and from many a you tuber.  I can't say that I have always followed it.  During one of my wash sessions I found how important this way of detangling is.  Water is the ultimate moisturizer, so under the power of water my hair just practically falls apart between my fingers.  Even though I'm a little rough with finger detangling, cause tangles frustrate me, it still works.  I would say detangling with oil or conditioner prior to shampooing might do me some good, but I wont, because....... I didn't. 

3. Aphogee 2 min. reconstructor for damaged hair cause let's face it, my hair is damaged, has been a life saver for me.  Color damages your hair.  My goal is to save it from the damage ensued but still enjoy the result.  The Aphogee gives my hair the protein it has been stripped of and therefore strengthens it to survive another twist out!

4. After protein, I always follow with a deep conditioner.  Be it cholesterol, mixed chicks, homemade, etc.  I also may mix it with an oil to make it deeper.

I will be posting pics..............so stay tuned!

DONT DO IT!!!!!!!

I had some stuff going on and was feeling bad, but pulling my hair out made it worse.  As a woman my hair is important to me, just as it is to most women.  Ergo the old saying when you look good you feel good.  I think we all know what happens when you don't look good.

Base, I washed my hair, conditioned it, rinse the conditioner, put a shower cap and head wraps on and went to work.  I was looking cute too.  Oh but the drama that was going on up under that shower cap was not!

I finally sat down last night and decided to stay up and detangle and twist my hair.  Low and behold when I went to divide and conquer, I was reminded of the mess I dealt with when I big chopped.  YES, it was pretty bad.

It was late, I was tired, and feeling some kind of way.  I called my self getting back to my glycerin mix and using vaseline(of all things), but when your hair is a mess, that is no time to be trying something new.  I was literally pulling and ripping my hair in order to separate it and detangle sections.  I started getting really sad.

I added my aloe mix, put some conditioner in and tried to finger detangle (wrong term).  Then I would add glycerin, vaseline and went and got my Denman.  OH LORD!  It was coming out in big knots.  I know I have some broken and shorter than short strands, especially in the back and the crown where my hair is most sensitive.  

ARRRGGH!  I was up till 4am and still didn't finish.  So this morning I tried to complete the damage I had begun but this time I changed the combination.  I sprayed with the Aloe, finger combed a little, detangled with the denman, then added the glycerin, and then vaseline.  That was a little better actually.  

Why the vaseline you ask?  From listening to the story of a friend and then seeing how it did my daughters hair (whose texture, density, and thickness is way different from mine, it actually did good on her hair!)

I thought untill I get my shea butter I will try this.  This will be the last time (maybe, I have to see how the twist out turns out, twist and shout! Come on, Come on, Come on, Come on baby now!   Hey!

Random and stuck in a moment!

Anywho, I just hope my hair will rebound.  With color I have to be more careful and just take the time and do what I have to do. Had I just stayed up that night and finger combed and added my conditioners, I wouldn't have had to go through that awful experience of loosing sooooooo much hair.  I am too embarrassed to even show how much it was. 

Don't put off for tomorrow, what you can do today!  Especially in the name of beauty and hair.  EVEN IF IT MEANS LOOSING SLEEP!  LOL!

Moral of the story, please, Please (in my James Brown voice), finish your hair!

I have to admit, I go on YouTube and watch other women’s hair and say “Daaaannngg, I want her hair!” or “I wish my hair was that long!” or “Why isn’t my hair growing that fast?”………..On this last one I ponder "long." 

The answer is because I don’t do everything I can or should to maintain my hair.

Hi!!!!!! I'm back!  Been gone way too long.  Just doing some things and experiencing some things in my life, but...........I still like it here.

My focus will be on what I do to maintain my color and the health of my hair with color.  Its not all about the successes but where I have failed too.  I'll show you what has worked and what hasn't worked for me.  I even want to know what you think!  So here we go

So What am I trying to Do?

So in case you didn't know:

Time since last relaxer - last relaxer was March 4, 2011 so it has been almost 10 weeks!
Time plan to stretch relaxer - 16 weeks, which will be June 24th
Length Goal - okay so here is the deal, I want my hair to grow out just how it is cut, long in the front and shorter in the back.  So I want my front edges to reach what I call -CL- or cleavage length! big smile

This post is old, I was trying to correct some typos on old post.  So as to not repost I will just leave the typos ALONE!!!!!!

Hi!!! I'm so excited!  I am so sorry I have been away for so long.  I have so many updates and information I want to share.  Stay tuned!

ONE YEAR!!!

This first one year anniversary is to celebrate a year since my last relaxer on March 5, 2011.  Wow! That time went by so fast.  In July I will be acknowledging my one year anniversary since my big chop.

In the mean time I have discovered that twisting my hair before a wash doesn't work all that great either.  What I have discovered is:
                                1. Aloe Vera Juice works as a great detangler!  I mean it is super!
                                2. At this in between stage, if I want a neat non-fro look, I am going to have to keep my                                              hair twisted and wear twist outs.  And even with the twist outs I can't wear them "out" too long without retwisting.
                               3. I must maintain moisture and a good regimen.  Out with the shea butters(winter regimen), in with the oil and glycerin.  Since the season is changing and all.

My........How you've grown!

 It has been 6 months!

This is just a fro, or shall I say shrinkage after a wash n go

Twist not long enough so I keep them covered.

First real attempt at a twist/twist out

After a twist out, cute huh!

Another twist out!  I'm getting good at this.

Chunky twist out, just kind of threw them in.

I still have to figure out how to push it back and make it lay down

About my Hair............

Since being natural for (after big chop) 6 months now, I have learned a lot about my hair.

1.  The longer it gets, the harder it is to untangle.
                   Problem:  I still haven't found a solution for this problem.  Meaning making it easier to untangle, because my hair will tangle.  I just do not enjoy how long it takes and how harsh it can be.
                    Solution:  I think I need add to my hair care arsenal.

2.  The longer it gets, the more I have to keep it styled.
                    Problem:  I can't wear my fro as much anymore due to the fact that my hair will dry out and tangle up quick.
                   Solution:  I have found that a twist or braid out works best

3. I can't go too long without changing or upgrading whatever "out" style I have.
                    Problem:  If  I leave my hair in an "out" style for more than three days, it may take me three days to untangle (my word check doesn't like detangle, so will properly use untangle this time)
                    Solution:  I must re-twist at night  to avoid tangles.  I also re-dampen with conditioner water mix or glycerin water oil mix.

4. Washing my hair is not as easy as it used to be.
                       Problem:  When my hair was shorter, I could literally just wash and go.  Now, not so much

                        Solution:  Again with the tanlges! If I do not wash my hair in twist, there will be hell to pay!

5. I LOVE MY CURLS!
                   

BABY Girl!

OMG her hair is growing and it has really gotten long.  I am tempted to press it but I won't.  At least not anytime soon.  I told her we might on her birthday.  I don't want her to get the straight bug, me either for that matter.  I just can't see how straightening helps at all.  Seems like it would be so damaging.  Anywho, here are some pics of some styles I've been trying on her hair.

 I braid her hair too, but the puff is easy and quick, plus I was loving it because it had grown so much.  I am learning how to deal with her tangles better too.  The biggest key is to wet before attempting anything, and to keep twisted.  I believe I have found a discovery in what her hair likes too as it pertains to her texture and curl pattern.  More to come on that.

Happy New Year! Happy Martin Luther King Birthday! Happy Black History Month! and Happy Presidents Day!

I know, I know, I've been gone for a while.  I have missed blogging and youtubing so much. I have been very busy in every aspect of my life, plus my phone isn't downloading like I need it to. I have to start using my camera or find another way to get pics and vids.  Anywho, where do I start.  I have done a lot of experimenting with my hair(mostly with styles).  It has also gotten long!!!!  My daughters hair is growing too!!!   I am still very excited about my hair, its texture, its pattern, its growth, and its health.

Serena Williams copy Cat? Is it okay?

Okay yall, I saw something note worthy in my Yahoo newsfeed today.  There is a tennis player named Caroline Wozniacki who "mimicked" Serena Williams.  She had a fake big but and was bending over a lot.  Dancing around and prancing around on the court.  She even made the noises that Serena makes. 

I just couldn't believe she was doing that.  I can't believe they allowed it.  I was really offended. 

Then I thought, is America at the point where we can poke fun at each other.  If so, okay, but I really don't think we are there yet.  I haven't seen any flak for it yet.

Then I was thinking, if Serena is okay with it, should I be.

What do yall think?

Here is the link: http://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/blog/busted_racquet/post/Video-Caroline-Wozniacki-imitates-Serena-Willia?urn=ten-wp3953

WW4C

What is WW4C you ask?  You know how most YT's call the style where you add Ecostyler Gel to define

 your curls a wash-n-go? 

No, No, sweetie, it is not a wash and go.  It is a WW4C, a Wash and Wait 4 Curls. 

First of all, my hair is short.  A fellow YT, when she had short hair, said she just rubbed the gel into her hair and tweaked it here and there.  Most others will put some on each section and then shake, pick, or pull apart the hair to define each curl.  The second technique is the one I tried.  Hence, it took me two days to finish my hair, then another day for it to dry.  That is why I say wash and wait or wet and wait.

I must emphasize that the wait is well worth it though.   My curls were really defined.  I received a lot of complements.  I loved my hair.  It lasted a week.  I had just co-washed my hair, added my leave-in, sprayed some glycerin mix, and slathered on the gel.  Slather is an exaggeration, but you do have to put quite a bit.  Like I said above, I did do it section by section.  Meaning after I applied the gel I took that section of hair and separated it further into smaller sections.  This hairstyle is so tempting for me to do it again and again, but using the Ecostlyer gel so frequently would not be a good thing.  I am def going to do it again until I use this jar up, and I plan to do my daughters hair.  After its gone, I will make a batch of flaxseed gel and see how that works on a WW4C.

WANTED: Moisture

Hi!  I love my hair!  It is growing and healthy!  I never really had a problem with maintaining healthy hair before.  But there have been those times.  Any hoo!  I tried something new!  (at least new for me)

I have mentioned in a previous post how my scalp is always itchy.  So this time I used baking soda and scrubbed my scalp.  Yes, a scalp scrub!  It felt so good!  Afterwards I did a ACV rinse and my hair was shiny and the curls were popping.  I did this on my hair and my daughters hair.  It was wonderful!  I topped it off with applying some VO5 moisturizing conditioner, rinsing, and then Silk Elements Mixed Silk Leave-in.  On top of that I misted with some of my glycerin mix.  Our curls were nice and moisturized! 

THIS WAS THREE WEEKS AFTER acv, JUST POSTED LATE!

I realized that wetting you hair makes it grow.  When I was washing my daughters hair and my hair twice a week, it grew like weeds.  The weather has changed though. I haven't washed my hair in three weeks.  The last time I washed my hair was when I shampooed, ACV'd, homemade DC'd, and cornrowed.    During that three weeks I put oil in it, sprayed it with water, used leave-ins, and glycerin.  Shame on me but I have even excercised a few times.  UGGH!

I couldn't take it anymore, so even though it was cold this morning, I rinsed my hair.  I had to.  That was a lot of product build up.  I didn't shampoo it though.  While in the shower I just rinsed it with the hot water to get the product out.  I rinsed it real good, got my scalp and everything.  Then I turned on the cold/cool water to help lay the cuticle back down.  It felt good.  Afterwards I put some leave in all through my hair.  I used my applicator bottle full of oil, and applied some to my scalp, and them poured some in my hands to apply to my hair.  I rubbed it in good and wala!


I attempted to detangle with my denman, but decided not to.  I kind of brushed it back in the front with the Denman and put on my headband.

Yes, I went outside with my head wet.  Yes it was cold.  No I am not sick (at least not yet and don't plan to be because I will fight it with garlic).  Will I go three weeks without washing again?  No, I don't plan to, even with a protective style like cornrows. 

In fact, I plan to rinse/co-wash 2-3 times a week but just at night.  I will apply my leave in (which I will do a product review on), add oils to seal, and spray with glycerin on non wash days.

So today is Thursday, and I already did my wash/wetting-1.  Tonight I will spray with glycerin, add chunky twists,  put on my scarf and .................WALA!  I will keep this up for a week and show the results.

No I didn't forget about my babygirl.  I will rinse her hair thoroughly tonight.

Hey!  I'm learning.

ACV and homemade DC

Here is another hair care tip and process I picked up from my girl Naptural 85.  First pre-pooed/detangled my hair with some of my VO5 conditioner.  After rinsing that, I shampooed with a VOD clarifying shampoo. Upon rinsing the shampoo I poured a 1/3 part ACV/water rinse over my hair.

Next I mixed 2 eggs, some mayo (about 3-4 tbls), and some honey.  I added this mixture to my hair, put a plastic bag on and let it sit for a couple of hours. After rinsing, my hair was shiny, so clean, and fresh feeling.  It felt light and bouncy.  I put some more VO5 conditioner in, let it sit, rinsed, added some leave in, and my glycerin mix.  I hadn't shampooed my hair in about a month, so this treatment was also clarifying.

I didn't know what to do with my hair so I baggied it with the glycerin mix in because I didn't want to wet it again.  The egg mixture served as my DC so the VO5 condish and glycerin was just added moisture.  The next day I decided to put my hair in small cornrows.  I braid pretty tightly, a little too tight, I hope I don't experience breakage because of it.  I took me 3 days to finish my cornrows (I'm a busy woman).  So until I finished I just wore my head wrap.

 Here are some pics of me with the cornrows.

 

2nd Twist out!

Here is a slide show of my second attepmt twist out results.  I have done twist outs and bantu's many a time on my relaxed hair, but doing the same style on my natural hair is such a different and exciting experience.  Check out my youtube channel to see just how excited I really was.  Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=735qwyxIQm8